Rope merchandiser



March 19, 1957 G. D. vloN ROPE: MERCHANDISER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April lO, 1956 INVENTOR. GEnRsE DA /v/EL VfoN ATTORNEYS.

March 19, 1957 Filed April l0, 1956 G. D. VION ROPE. MERCHANDISER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

March 19, 1957 G. D. vlON ROPE: MERCHANDISER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April l0, 1956 A QQ .w L w A SMN SQ e QKN @QN N m n ww INVENTOR. GeoRef DAN/El. View March 19, 1957 G. D. vloN 2,785,469

ROPE MERCHANDISER Filed April 10, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. G'Ekce DANIEL VwN BYWW A TTORNEYS.,

March 19, 1957 G. D. VION ROPE MERCHANDISER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April lO, 1956 MEE! ROPE MERCHADISER George Daniel Vion, Hasbrouck Heights, N. BJ., assigner to Whitlock Cordage Company, New Your, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 10, 1956, Serial No. 577,225

11 Claims. (Cl. 33-130) in many instances. Furthermore, progressive rope manufacturers now provide the retail trade with rope coiled in heavy paper cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers. Such cartons follow the contour of a standard coil of rope and they usually have rectangular' contours with flat ends. Prior art rope merchandisers have not been adapted to handle these cartons so as to permit their display in an attractive and conspicuous manner. Because of the necessity for sturdy construction prior art rope merchandisers have been expensive to manufacture, and because of their weight they have been expensive to transport and install.

With the foregoing in mind, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a rope merchandiser which is extremely light in weight while retaining the necessary rigidity and strength Irequired to support heavy rope, which is made less expensively and which, because of its light weight, may be transported and installed less expensively, which is compact in size, and which can attractively display cartons of coiled rope in such a manner that in each instance practically the entire carton is unobstructed and so that the rope may be withdrawn easily by being pulled through the end opening of the carton.

A `rope merchandiser should also include a device for measuring the rope and a knife for cutting the measured length, and this equipment preferably should be in full view of the customer which also incidentally tempts the customer to use the equipment without supervision by the store personnel. Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a rope merchandiser having the above desirable characteristics and which permits the rope from any of a number of displayed cartons to be measured easily and quickly while providing a cut-olf knife which affords the maximum possible protection against personal injury regardless of who attempts to operate the device.

A specific example of a rope merchandiser which satisiies fully the stated objects and which provides an example of the present invention, is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and described hereinafter.

The various figures of the drawings are as follows:

Fig. l is a front View or elevation of this novel rope merchandiser;

Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation;

Fig. 3 is a rear or back view or elevation of the device nited States Patent O r"ice with the cartons and the rope measuring and cut-off equipment removed to expose the construction;

Fig. 3a is similar to Fig. 3 but shows only a portion of the device and illustrates a desirable modification;

Fig. 4 is a top view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on a vertical plane showing the details of the protected cut-off knife;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. l and showing the line 5 5 on which Fig. 5 is taken;

Fig. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross section similar to Fig. 5 but with the handle raised;

F ig. 9 is a top view of the cut-off knife; and

Fig. l() is an elevation showing a modification of thev knife.

As the drawings show, this new rope merchandiser is made entirely from metal rods which are of relatively small cross sectional size. The term rods is not used here in its exact technical sense but is intended to mean conventional structural metal shapes which are rod-like in character. lt is possible to use various commercially available metal shapes which may be either rolled, drawn or extruded. Metal tube stock is used in the commercial form. When of small enough cross sectional area or wall thickness to provide a light-weight construction which can be handled easily, prior art rope merchandisers would be too flimsy and flexible.

The base of the present rope merchandiser is formed by a rectangular loop l of the described light-weight product. This base is made relatively wide as compared to its depth. Two interspaced rear upstanding legs 2 and 3 are connected to the base il fairly close to the rear corners of the latter, and a single front upstanding leg d is connected centrally to the front of the base l. The legs Z and 3 are shown as comprising a single length which is bent to provide a top cross bar 5 which serves to interconnect the upper ends of the legs 2 and 3, and these legs are also interconnected at a location spaced below the bar 5, by a lower cross bar 6. The front leg 4 is connected to the rear legs 2 and 3 by a flat strip 7. The leg members 2, 3 and d and the cross bar 6 may be in the form of ordinary pipe, while the part '7 may be of flat bar stock. All of the joints required to provide the described connections, and practically al1 of the joints described hereinafter, may be formed by welding.

Now it can be seen that the legs 2, 3 and l are relatively located and interconnected to form a tripod which is rigid even though its elements are light in weight. Although functioning like a tripod the leg i is substantially parallel to the legs 2 and .3, the latter two legs extending towards each other at substantial but not excessive angularities.

When viewed from the front, as in Fig. 1, the new rope merchandiser is substantially symmetrical. It accommodates, in pairs, large rope cartons 8, medium size rope cartons 9 and small rope cartons il). These cartons have octagonal side walls and flat end walls, the top or front end walls having openings 8a, 9a and 10a, respectively, through which the rope may be pulled in each instance, the rope being numeraled Sb, 9b and 10b, respectively. The size terminology used is merely relative. For example, these relative ro-pe sizes might be 3%, F/s and 1A, the same length being coiled in each instance and the carton size varying accordingly.

The two lower cartons which are lthe large ones, are merely set on top of the base 1 so that they are, in effect, supported by the lloor itself. These large cartons, therefore, do not introduce any particular problem, and although their weight helps to anchor the rope merchandiser they cannot be relied on for this purpose because they may be removed or the rope in these cartons may be completely sold out.

The medium size cartons 9 are supported on a pair of shelves which are duplicates in construction. A- single cross bar 11 is mounted to the `legs 2 and 3 so as to be spaced' slightly above the tops of the cartons 8. Connected to this bar 11 are two forwardly extending and slightly upwardly angling bars l2 which are interspaced symmetrically with respect to the adjacent ones of the rear legs so as to permit the carton 9 to nest therebeween with; one of its corners projecting downwardly between the bars. 12. As is illustrated, the carton 9 is laid on its side with its end, having the rope hole, projecting. forwardly so that thel rope may be pulled through the end op.ening.9a.v

The bars 12 have their front ends interconnected by a cross bar 13 and preferably the ends of the cross bar 11; which overhang the rear legs are mounted by strut bars 14 which connect the outer ends of the bar l?. with the legs 2 and .3 ineach instance.

Now it. can be seen that this pair of shelves in each case is in eifect a cantilever which holds the rope carton so that it is' substantially unobstructed and fully exposed to view. The upward angularity of the bars l2 permits an attractive display even though these arms are deflected somewhat by the weight of the rope.

This iiexible kindv of construction introduces the problem that the cantilever shelf, formed as described above, is not in any way resistant to rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carH ton. In the present instance, however, each shelf is made rigidV with respect to such stress by means of a strut bar 15 which extends between the end corner of the shelf which yis adjacent to the front leg d and this front leg. The strut l5 is connected to this corner and the front leg so as to brace the shelf rigidly against the described rotation stress. Thus, regardless of the very light-weight construction used, relatively light gage har stock being used commercially, the carton is supported rigidly while remaining fully exposed to view so that any markings fx on the carton are visible.

As shown by Fig. 2, the strut bars 14 which in effect support the rear end of the shelf, comprising the bars 12, project forwardly from the legs 2 and 3. To prevent the rope carton from sliding backwardly, each shelf has a back arranged at right angles to the shelf and formed by opstanding bars lr6 connected at their bottoms to the bar l1 and their upper end portions angling inwar-dly to their upper ends which are connected to the adjacent one of the legs 2 and 3. These bars le may be substituted by a single length of bar which is rounded at its upper end. rhis latter construction has the advantage of eliminating one of the welds required for connection ofthe two bars to the leg, a single weld serving to make the necessary connection to the leg.

It can be seen now that the shelf is made very rigid. Preferably the bars l2 and lo are formed from a single length of material, although separate iengths may be used.

Each shelf has at its front an opstanding bracket l? formed by bars which are connected to the bar .T13 adjacent to the bars 12 and which then converge towares their upper ends. At their upper ends the bars l? mount a circular eye 18 formed from round cross sectioned bar stock andv connected to the bracket bars lll. These bars 17 vareal-ranged at right angles to the shelf bars i2. The overall' arrangement is such that the carton 9 is rather snugly but releasably held between the front and back parts 17 and 16, respectively, with the eye 1S registering with the hole 9a. This eye it due to its form provides a smooth bearing for rope pulled through the opening 9a regardless of the direction in which the rope is drawn.

As previously indicated the parts. described are in duplicate so thatl a pair of the cartons. 9. may be mounted symmetrically with respect to the device. The various parts are. located. so that the. center of gravity of the rope.

coiled in the cartons 9 is substantially over the center of the base l. Therefore, the rope merchandiser receives substantially no tilting effect from the weight of the rope in the cartons 9 even though the cartons 8 may not be in position.

rl`he cartons l@ are mounted by a substantially similar arrangement and the corresponding parts are correspondingly numeraled and identified by the addition. of the letter a.

iecause tr e cartons 10 are somewhat lighter inweight their organization differs slightly from that previously described, but their general function and operation remain the same. The shelf bars 12a are made substantially horizontal because the cartons 1? are located at a higher level and are more attractively displayed when lying horizontally.

Note that a potential customer standing in front of this rope merchandiser is able to see the tops of every one of the cartons merely by sweepingY hisV eyes up and down. A length of rope may be hanging from each for visual inspection, eyes i9, similar to those previously described, being connected to the bars i3 adjacent to their connections with the n-ruts and so that the ropes Si) may be led upwardly through them.

The. interconnection portion S, between the legs 2 and 3, is provided with an upstanding signboard 20 on which the rope manufacturers name and trade mark may be displayed along with advertising matter. This signboard is made. oval with its long axishorizontal so as to complete the pyramid effect created visually by the three pairs of cartons.

As previously described the top of the leg 4 mounts a. hat bar 7 which formsv a shelf or base on which the necessary rope measuring and cut-off equipment is l0- cated. This equipment is arranged in train andthe rope is fed to the equipment throughv a rope guide 21 whichL has a flared entrance for receiving any one of the ropes from its respective rope eye. The eyes 19 are angled forwardly to provide the necessary clearance from the other equipment. Any one of the ropes may be led through its eye and into the flared entrance 22 of4 the guide 21 so that it. can be pulled through the equipment required to process the rope for sale. The rope feeds smoothly so that there is no tendency to pull the rope rnerchandiser forwardly. The customer can inspect every inch of rope being pulled from any of the cartons. Furthermore, the rope can be fed from the coils in the cartons without kinking so that the customer starts out with a kink-free product.

As is shown by Fig. 6 the rope measuring, device comprises a frame 23 which mounts the guide 21, a lower sheave 214 and an upper sheave 25, the latter being journaled by an upwardly swinging lever 26 which is biased downwardly by a coil tension spring 27. One of the sheaves, preferably the lower one, may be Iconnected to a revolution counter (not shown) calibrated to measure the. rope pulled between the. sheaves; The lever 26v may have a finger knob 26a for the-purpose. of easily lifting the sheave 25 to permit initialthreading of the rope.

lust forwardly of this rope measuring device the. cutoit knife is located. This cuteoif knife has a pair of vertically arranged, laterally interspaced plates 28 which have mutually registered transverse slots 29 formed in them to providea rope channel aligned withy `the pass line formed by the two sheavesZfi and 25. A substantially semi-circular knife Sii is mounted on a pivot pin 3l which extendsv between the plates 28, this pivotal mounting being arranged to permit the knife to swing into and from the slot formed across the rope channel 29 due to the interspacing of the plates 2S. This knife 3i? has a handle 32 connected to it so as to overhang the pivot 31 when the. knife 3i) is vswung either into. the rope channel or fully away therefrom, this permitting arcanes the knife to remain in its open position while the rope is being pulled during its measuring.

A rope merchandiser is exposed to the public of necessity and an open knife would present a serious risk which could not be tolerated under merchandising conditions. Therefore, the knife 30 is provided with a sheath formed by interspaced plates 33 arranged so that the knife 30 is sandwiched between them and pivoted to swing with the knife on the pivot 31. The sheath plates 33 have substantially semi-circular fronts which project beyond and protect the knife blade edge when the sheath pivots to a fully forward position located by a cross connection 34 which engages the knife handle 32 when the sheath is in its protecting position. The rivet 31 has a cotter pin 35 passed through it and through a portion 36 stamped out from one of the plates 33. A coil tension spring 37 is connected to this cotter pin 35 and to the lower portion of one of the plates 28 so as to bias the sheath plates 33 always to swing to protecting positions. The connection 34 serves to interspace the plates 33 properly and an additional connection 34a may also be used for this purpose but of more importance for the purpose of engaging the plates 23 so as to limit outward swinging of the handle 32, whereby to locate the parts with the knife fully open but with its edge protected.

Although thoroughly protected, when the handle 32 is swung to cutting position the forward protecting edges of the sheath plates 33 engage the rope so that the sheath stops moving while the knife continues to advance, as is shown by Fig. 8.

It is to be understood that the parts mounting the uppermost cartons are also located substantially over the center of gravity of the roper merchandiser. The balance of the entire device is such as to make it completely stable without requiring that it be fastened to the floor. The entire device is attractive both with and without the cartons in position. It is extremely light for its strength and when free from the cartons may be easily moved about by one man. But when in use the cartons vare rigidly positioned and although they are exposed practically completely for visual inspection the rope mer- `chandiser itself remains a rigid unit at all times.

The use of single lengths for the bars 16 and 16a is shown by Fig. 3a in the case of the bars 16h. The bars 16 would have a similar appearance when made in the `same fashion.

In Fig. l0 a strap 33 is riveted or otherwise fastened to the handle of the knife and when the knife is closed this strap overlies one of the plates 28. Both the strap and this plate have holes which register when the knife is closed, the hole in the plate being threaded. A thumb screw 39 is provided so it may be inserted through the hole in the strap and screwed into the hole in the plate. This releasably locks the knife closed to prevent its unauthorized use. A chain 4t) anchors the thumb screw to the knife assembly so that the screw cannot be lost.

I claim:

1. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending forwardly from one of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so `that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for display and to deliver sold rope and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton.

2. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending forwardly from one of said rear legs in cantiliver fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for display and to deliver sold rope and with substantially the entire 4carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, said legs, shelf and strut being made from metal rods which are of relatively small cross sectional size and being rigidified due to the said structural interassociations.

3. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings -through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending forwardly from one of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for display and to deliver sold rope and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to -said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, the front of said shelf having connected thereto an upstanding bracket having an upper end Iand an eye connected to said upper end so as to encircle the end opening of the carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for yrope pulled through said opening.

4. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending forwardly from one lof said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for display and to deliver -sold rope and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight Aand uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, the front of said shelf having connected thereto an upstanding bracket having an upper end and an eye connected to said upper end so as to encircle the end opening of the carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for rope pulled through said opening, and rope processing equipment through which the rope is pulled in connection with its sale, said equipment being mounted on said front leg at a location vertically offset from said eye, and a rope guide a.so mounted on said front leg and positioned in alignment with said equipment and having a flared entrance for receiving the rope from said eye, whereby the rope may be pulled smoothly from said carton and through said equipment to edect the sale processing of the rope.

5. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form; a rigid tripod,` atv 4and on display, and a strut extending between said frontv leg andthe end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against' rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, the front of saidshelf having connected thereto an upstanding bracket having an upper end an an eye connected-to said upper end so as to encircle the end openingof the` carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for rope pulled through said opening, and rope processing equipment through which the rope is pulled in connection with its sale, said equipment being mounted on said front leg at a` location vertically offset from said eye, and a rope guide alsoinounted on said front leg and positioned in alignment with said equipment and having a flared entrance forreceiving the rope from said eye, whereby the rope may be pulled smoothly from said carton and through said equipment to effect the sale processing of the rope, said equipment comprising a rope measuring device and a rope cutter arranged in train.

6. A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear upstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending' forwardly fromk one of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for. display and to deliver sold ropev and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and' uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, and means mounted on the upper ends of said'rear legs for` supporting a sign.

7. A device for' merchandising rope coiled in cartons havingl end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rearupstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, at least one shelf extending forwardly from one of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening for display and to deliver sold rope and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said. front leg, said strut bcinfY connected to said corner and front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the carton, the front of said shelf having connected thereto an upstanding bracket having an upper end and an eye connected to said upper end so to encircle the end opening' of the carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for rope pulled through said opening, and rope processing equipment through which the rope is pulled in connection with its sale, said equipment being mounted on said front leg at a location vertically offset from said eye, and a rope guide also mounted on said front leg and positioned in alignment with said equipment and having a flared entrance for receiving the rope from said eye, whereby the rope may be pulled smoothly from said carton and through said equipment to' effect the sale processing ofthe rope, said equipment including a rope cut-off knife comprising al rope channel having a transverse slot, a substantially semicircular knife pivoted to swing into d from said slot, and a knife sheath embracing both sides of said knife and to swing to `a limit below the'lrnifes cutting edge, and a spring biasing said sheath to swing to said limit, said sheath engaging the rope and permitting said knife to unsheath when the knife is swung against the rope.

openings through which the rope may be .i the coil centers, said device including two rear opstanding legs and a front opstanding leg rela- '.vciy located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, ba formed by a loop of rod to which the lower ends are connected and which is adapted to support y pair oi.' said cartons and located on either side of said front leg between' the latter and said rear legs, and o pairs of shelves spaced one above the other and above said base andthe cartons on the latter, cach of saidV shelves extending forwardly from one of said rear in cantilever' fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may ne pulled through said end opening, for display and to deliver said rope, and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display', and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and said front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight und uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the container;

A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be d from the coil centers, said device including two rear tpstanding legs and a front upstanding leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, a base formed by a loop of rod to which the lower ends of said legs are connected and which is adapted to support ticaliy a pair of said cartons and located on either side of said front leg between the latter and said rear legs, and two pairs of shelves spaced one above the other and above said base and the cartons on the latter, each of said'shelves extending forwardly from one of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with its end projecting forwardly so that the rope may be pulled through said end opening, for display and to deliver said rope, and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end Corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and said front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled iu' the container, the front of each of said shelves having connected thereto an opstanding bracket having an upper end and an eyel connected to said upper end so as to encircle the end opening of the carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for rope pulled through said opening.

li).V A device for merchandising rope coiled in cartons having end openings through which the rope may be pulled from the coil centers, said device including two rear opstanding legs and a iro-nt upstan ing leg relatively located and interconnected to form a rigid tripod, a base formed by a loop of rod to which the lower ends of said legs are connected and which is adapted to support vertically a pair of said cartons and located on either side of said' front leg between the latter and said rear legs, and two pairs of shelves spaced one above the other and above said base and the cartons on the latter, each of said shelves extending forwardly from of said rear legs in cantilever fashion and being adapted to support one of said cartons on its side with itsv end projecting forwardly so that the' rope may be puile'd'through said 8. ./t device for merchandising rope coiled in cartonsk end opening, for display and to deliver said rope, and with substantially the entire carton unobstructed and on display, and a strut extending between said front leg and the end corner of said shelf which is adjacent to said front leg, said strut being connected to said corner and said front leg so as to brace said shelf against rotation stress under the weight and uncoiling action of the rope coiled in the container, the front of each of said shelves having connected thereto an upstanding bracket having an upper end and an eye connected to said upper end so as to encircle the end opening of the carton on said shelf and formed to provide a smooth bearing for rope pulled through said opening, and a mutually aligned rope measuring device and a rope cutter mounted on said front leg at a location vertically oifset from all of said eyes, and a rope guide also mounted on said front leg and positioned in alignment with said device and cutter and having a ilared entrance for receiving any rope from any of said eyes, whereby any rope may be pulled smoothly from any of said cartons through said device and cutter to process any rope sold.

ll. The device dened by claim 5 and further including a releasable lock for locking said rope cutter against unauthorized use.

No references cited. 

